ECHOSTAR BATTLES PIRATES ON EBAY
Englewood, Colo. – March 16, 2006 – EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) and its DISH Network™ announced today that as the result of increased efforts to battle piracy and satellite signal theft, it filed and settled federal lawsuits against three individuals that violated DISH Network’s intellectual property rights on the internet auction website, eBay. The amounts of the cash settlements were not disclosed.
The lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against out of state defendants. A man in the Seattle area, a man from Hallettsville, Texas and another man located in Struthers, Ohio violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.§ 1201 (a)(1)(A), by selling piracy related items on eBay. The three individuals had advertised, took payment for and delivered piracy related equipment to agents of DISH Network’s signal integrity group.
Echostar continues to combat those individuals who try to circumvent EchoStar’s security system by manufacturing, importing, or offering to the public, any device that may be used to receive unauthorized programming from Echostar’s satellites.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 12 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network™, the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).